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Asia has long been recognised as an important region
for New Zealand both in terms of regional security
and also prosperity. Asia is a fast changing
region and to ensure New Zealand keeps pace with
the change, we are focused on enhancing our relationships
and raising the tempo of our engagement within
the Asia region.
ASEAN is becoming more influential and new structures, such as the East Asian Summit, are emerging. China has evolved as one of the world's fastest growing economies. The New Zealand-India economic relationship is poised for future growth. Korea continues its fast pace of growth, and the Japanese economy may be picking up steam again.
Raising the tempo of New Zealand's engagement with Asia is a long term commitment.
If New Zealand wants to be better integrated and linked to the growth and dynamism of Asia, we need to strengthen our ties with the region. We will need to demonstrate that we are a good neighbour, by developing long term relationships and partnerships in development cooperation, security, human rights and sustainability. New Zealand also needs to find new ways to link into, and make the most of, economic growth with Asia.
It will also be important for New Zealand to boost our awareness of Asia and become more 'Asia literate'. These themes were set out in the Government's 2007 white paper Our Future With Asia.
The heads of New Zealand’s Asian diplomatic posts met in New Zealand at the beginning of May 2008 to discuss keeping New Zealand ahead of the curve in Asia. The 14 Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls-General, discussed a range of issues including security, trade and economic prospects for the region, and ways to position New Zealand for maximum advantage.
The need to build globally competitive firms in New Zealand, and use linkages with Asia to pursue economic transformation at home was also discussed. At the same time, New Zealand’s diplomats need to keep working on current and potential free trade agreements in Asian markets. Building practical good neighbourliness in the region will also help secure New Zealand’s place in the emerging regional architecture.
More about New Zealand's relationships and engagement
with Asia and our senior diplomats working in
the region can be found below:
Tony Browne has been the New Zealand Ambassador to China since December 2004. He first served in the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing in the mid 1970s after completing Chinese language training. He subsequently worked in the New Zealand Mission to the United Nations in New York and as Head of the Tokelau Administration, before becoming High Commissioner to Vanuatu in 1987. He served for four years as Director of the Domestic and External Security Secretariat in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, followed by three and a half years as Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taiwan. Immediately prior to coming to China Tony spent five years as Director of the North Asia Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington.
Wen Chin Powles has been New Zealand’s Consul-General to Shanghai since January 2006. Wen has served previously in the New Zealand mission to the UN in New York and at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing. In Wellington, she has worked on North Asian, trade policy and environment issues and was Deputy Director of the Americas Division.
Julian is one of MFAT’s most experienced international lawyers. He headed the Ministry’s Legal Division and acted as the Government’s chief international legal adviser from 2004-2005, and has served in the Legal Division in various capacities over many years. He has also worked in a variety of disarmament and human rights areas, including as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s expert group on nuclear liability, and as head of MFAT’s Human Rights Unit. He has been previously posted as New Zealand representative to the OECD in Paris, and to the New Zealand Embassy in Samoa. He took up his role as Consul-General in Hong Kong in August 2005.
Michelle worked for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for more than twenty years before she took up a secondment to the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, (which is a company owned by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce). She began as Director of NZCIO in November 2007. In her career in MFAT, Michelle served in posts in Apia, Samoa, in Beijing, at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva and at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo, where she was Deputy Head of Mission. In Wellington, Michelle worked in the North Asia, Pacific Trade Negotiations Divisions of MFAT. She speaks English, French and Chinese.
Ian Kennedy has extensive experience working on the New Zealand-Japan relationship: this is his third posting to Tokyo. He has also had postings as Deputy Head of Mission in Honiara, Solomon Islands, as Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, and as Ambassador to Turkey. In Head Office, Ian has worked in the North Asia, Pacific, Economic, Defence, Development Cooperation and Personnel Divisions and was most recently Director of Information and Public Affairs. He took up his role as Ambassador to Japan in July 2007.
Jane’s first posting was to the New Zealand Permanent Mission in New York from 1989-1993, where she represented New Zealand on the Third Committee of the UN, which deals with human rights issues. She was elected Vice Chair of the Committee in 1990. She served as Deputy Head of Mission in Moscow from 1995-1999. She was posted in Canberra, from 1999-2003, where she was the Economic Counsellor responsible for the Closer Economic Relationship. Prior to taking up her appointment in Seoul, Jane was lead New Zealand negotiator in United Nations agreements dealing with biodiversity and biosafety, oceans and forestry issues. She took up her posting in Seoul in July 2006.
Rupert Holborow has worked for the New Zealand government for over 25 years, including most recently as New Zealand’s APEC Senior Official. He has been Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, and at the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra, and has worked in the North Asia and South East Asia Divisions of MFAT, as director of the Economic Division, and as private secretary to the Minister of Trade Negotiations. Rupert took up his current posting as High Commissioner to India at the beginning of 2008. He is also cross accredited to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
David Kersey is one of the Ministry’s most experienced South East Asia experts. He holds an MA in South East Asian Studies from London School of Economics, and has served in five MFAT South East Asian Posts, including Jakarta (twice, including as Deputy Head of Mission), Bangkok, Ha Noi, where he was Ambassador and Singapore, where he was High Commissioner. In Wellington, David has worked on a variety of Asian and Pacific issues, and was most recently Director of the External Assessments Bureau and Acting Director of Domestic and External Security in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has been New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei since November 2006.
An experienced operator in Asia, Phillip Gibson was New Zealand’s Ambassador in Japan from 1999-2004 and in Thailand (also accredited to Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam) from 1992-1996. He was New Zealand Commissioner General for Aichi World Expo in Japan 2004-2005, and is currently New Zealand Commissioner General for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. He has also had MFAT postings in Manila, New York and Rome, and has been Director of Planning and of South and South East Asia Division in MFAT in Wellington. From 1996 to 1999 he was CEO of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Phillip took up his current role as Ambassador to Indonesia in 2006.
David has had MFAT postings in Canberra and in Kuala Lumpur where he was Deputy High Commissioner. In Wellington, he has worked in the Environment, Middle East and Africa and Trade Negotiations Divisions of MFAT, and was Deputy Director of the Australia Division. David took up his current role as New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines in 2006.
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Martin has more than 25 years experience working on trade and economic issues for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been posted to Canberra, and as Deputy Representative to the New Zealand Mission to the WTO in Geneva. In Wellington, he has worked in the Trade Negotiations and Europe Divisions of MFAT and from 2001 – 2004 he led officials’ work on climate change, in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. From 2005-2007, Martin was New Zealand’s lead negotiator for the ASEAN/Australia/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and for New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia. Martin took up his posting as High Commissioner to Singapore in early 2008.
James has been New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam since August 2006. Previously he was Director of Information and Public Affairs at MFAT. He has had postings in Beijing, Hong Kong (twice, including as Consul-General from 1998 – 2001), at the UN in New York, New Caledonia and the Cook Islands, where he was High Commissioner. James was Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute at Auckland University from 2001 to 2004, and has written and published a number of academic articles on Asian affairs and New Zealand foreign policy.
Brook joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1990 and has had postings in Canberra and Brussels, where he was Deputy Head of New Zealand’s Mission to the European Union. In Wellington, he has worked in the Disarmament and Europe Divisions of MFAT, and as executive assistant to the Chief Executive. From 2003 – 2005 Brook was international affairs advisor to the Prime Minister, in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Brook took up his posting as Ambassador to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and Myanmar in 2006.
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Ruth is New Zealand’s first Ambassador to Timor-Leste, and has been in this role since the mission was upgraded to a full Embassy in 2005. She has previously had postings in Jakarta, The Hague, and Canberra and was Deputy Head of Mission in Beijing from 2000 – 2002. In Wellington, Ruth was Senior Adviser on Iraq in 2003, and has held management positions in the South and South East Asia, and Pacific Divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
